News & Events

UNEXPLORED CARIBBEAN ISLAND DISCOVERED FOR YACHTSMEN

JUNE 11, 2013 -- BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA – A quickly growing secret, the Western Caribbean Islands of Bocas Del Toro are attracting guests from all over the world. Visitors and long-term customers come from faraway places such as Norway, France, Spain and even New Zealand to make Red Frog Beach Marina & Rainforest Resort their home.

At the marina, seafarers receive a level of service not typically found in the emerging market of Central America. Its rustic beauty is complemented by a modern fuel dock, floating docks, a brand new bathhouse and laundry facility as well as unbeatable dockage offers for long-term customers. With some new property upgrades, unique itineraries and economic feasibility, long-term stays are even more enjoyable. The marina is safely tucked within a hurricane-free zone of lush mangroves, naturally protecting its contents.

Panama has been steadily growing as its government introduced some aggressive incentives to lure retirees ten years ago. Since then, over 100,000 retirees have bought second homes in Panama with many boat owners now following suit. Panama's reputation as being an economic dynamo has been established in the last several years as being ranked one of the top places in the world to retire with its robust banking center, Punta Pacifica Hospital, affiliated with Johns Hopkins, amenities and aggressive Pensionado Program offered by the government that includes discounts on everything from restaurants to movie tickets. In a recent WashingtonPost.com article, American retirees are flocking to Panama for its natural beauty and economic benefits. The archipelago of Bocas Del Toro in Panama is just 133 miles from the entrance of the Panama Canal, and only 10 minutes to the Bocas Town international airport.

Some developers are noticing a trend and are including marina slips with their real estate offerings. A client from the U.S. who bought a home with a pool and a marina slip at Red Frog Beach, viewed his purchase in Panama as an investment and said, “Where else can you get a large, ocean-view home on a Caribbean Island with a boat slip at a first-class marina for under $500,000 or a Balinese style Jungle Lodge with a slip for less than $250,000?” Panama has proven itself to be one of the top Latin American destinations not only for its economic advantages, but also for its exotic natural surroundings, its central location to the Caribbean and Pacific waters and its overall globalization. Bocas Del Toro in particular was voted one of the Top 10 Caribbean Islands to Live On, by Islands.com and the beaches on Isla Bastimentos located a 10 minute walk across the island from the marina was voted one of The World’s Best Secret Beaches, by The Travel Channel.

Red Frog Beach is an island beachfront community that has an extraordinarily beautiful, protected deep marina that offers boaters affordable slip rates for lease or buying a 50ft slip for just under $85,000. The marina’s berthing capacity is for yachts up to 250 feet with an exceptionally deep draft of over 20 feet. This real estate development offers eco-friendly jungle lodges that include a marina slip from just under $250,000 to upscale homes with pools that include a slip from under $500,000 to just over $1,000,000. Owners of these properties can rent out the unit to the surging amount of tourists traveling to Panama.

The facility’s proximity to the Panama Canal – just 133 nautical miles – is also a big convenience, along with the fact that Bocas Del Toro is one of the very few Caribbean islands that lies out of the hurricane belt – an assurance that means a great deal to yachtsmen in season.

Popular activities include endless hiking trails, a variety of tours and excursions, the nature preserve and of course, plenty of fishing and scuba diving. A water taxi to the eclectic Bocas Town is just a 10-minute ride, where grocery stores, waterfront restaurants, airport and some shopping await.